If you are 70 ½ or older, you may pay your stewardship pledge to the Church directly from your IRA.  A Qualified Charitable Distribution, as it is called, allows you to make a gift from your IRA to the church and avoid paying income tax on the distribution.  If you are over 73, the gift also will help satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution.   It must be from an IRA account; 401(k), 403(b), SEP IRA accounts, and other retirement accounts do not qualify.  

Making such a gift is simple.  Contact your financial advisor, retirement plan administrator, or plan fiduciary company to initiate a gift transfer.  Please note that the gift must come directly from your IRA account to the Church.  You will need the Church’s tax id number – please contact the church office if you do not have it.